Cover Image: Stay with Me

Stay with Me

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

Stay with Me is a welcome change to your typical Christian romance. In this page turning romance, we see our characters deal with drug addiction, honesty, and ultimately how the truth will set us free to receive grace. I highly recommend and was unable to put this book down until the very end.

Was this review helpful?

This was a sweet story with a good back story. It had great pace and intense moments. It was a unique read that keeps you fully engrossed.

Was this review helpful?

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ (3.5 Stars)

Stay With Me by Becky Wade was an intriguing and unique story.

Becky tackled some raw, tough subjects with grace and I was fascinated with the unique concept of this series and the challenging storyline.

The characters were indeed incredible, (so many adorable personality traits that were super fun to read about) and the setting was simply gorgeous—I’m so excited to explore a series set in Georgia!! (Southern girl here 😉)

While I honestly did enjoy much of this story and am thrilled to continue this fascinating series, I ended up feeling quite conflicted and a little disappointed in some aspects by the end of the book.

Gen is a world-renowned Bible study teacher and writer. She captivates audiences with her charm and sincerity. But privately, she struggles with the chains of addiction and dishonesty.

Sam is an international transplant attempting to leave behind a past of tragedy and start anew with a simple life of solitude.

Both characters are missing something from their lives and struggling to leave the darkness behind.

But through their struggles and interactions with each other, I felt that the “soul” of the struggle was missing. Both characters, but especially Gen, are searching for restoration, but I never felt as if they sought God for it. God is missing from Gen’s life, but instead of crying out to God, getting in the Word, and seeking godly counsel, she simply plugs on through her life and almost seems to find fulfillment in family and Sam.

While I understand that everyone’s walk of faith is different and not all stories play out the same way, in all honesty, this one just fell a bit flat for me and left me a bit disappointed.

I do adore Becky and her books and will for sure be continuing this series, but I felt compelled to provide my sincere feedback through this review.

I received a copy of this book for FREE, and a positive review was not required.

Was this review helpful?

(🌟🌟🌟-🌟 3-4 out of 5 stars)

“𝚆𝚑𝚢 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚒𝚝 𝚜𝚘 𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝙲𝚑𝚛𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚊𝚗𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚌𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚗 𝚝𝚘 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚖 𝚋𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚒𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚊𝚝𝚜? 𝙱𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚙𝚛𝚒𝚍𝚎? 𝙱𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝙲𝚑𝚛𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚊𝚗 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝙲𝚑𝚛𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚊𝚗 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚍𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚝 𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝? 𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚐𝚘𝚘𝚍?” (𝐒𝐚𝐦-𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐞, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟎)


I’m giving this book about 3-4 stars out of 5.
I can’t make up my mind about the star-rating because I have mixed emotions on this book which I would try to explain in this review.

Genevieve was a preacher of God’s teachings for a living. She comes from a respected family and grew up close with her sister, Natasha. She and her sister were famous from an event that happened in the past and has been living under the shadows of that event. She was battling her thoughts and emotions about everything in her life including her purpose as a person. Because of all the pressure that she had to endure, she suffered from drug addiction but vowed to clean herself to not disappoint the people around her.

Sam was an half-Australian, half-American who decided to live permanently in the US after everything that he’d been through in life. He, as well, experienced a very scarring event in his life that resulted to him living a self-imposed prison. It may not have been his exact description of living, but that’s how Genevieve saw it. Sam owns the restaurant and farm in Gen’s hometown and their paths crossed when Genevieve went back home to recover and refresh herself.

In this book, you will be able to read about Christianity, faith, mental health, and a twist of mystery. In totality, I liked this book. I like the roller coaster of emotions that it brought me while reading it and how the story line went. I also like how this book showcased how a person can cope when struggling with mental health by saying that you do not need to be afraid to seek help from people close to you, because if they truly love you, they will support you no matter what. I also liked how this book showed God’s power. He may not be giving you everything that you want, but know that He will always be watching and listening. His ways are to be trusted and be praised for He knows what is best for you. As a catholic, I admire how Becky Wade included this because this is what we believe in our religion. It may not be what you want or what you asked for from God, but He knows better and He has valid reasons for everything that happens or will happen.

However, there are still some points where it felt a little off to me like when either of the main characters doubted Him. I know and understand that at some point in life, people really tend to do doubt or question God and His ways, especially when their life has turned upside down. It just pains me to know and think that people do not have as much faith in Him even if they know that He is our creator. He created life. Readers, please do not get me wrong. I AM NOT JUDGING ANYONE, but a part of me wishes I could help people who struggle. I wish I could impart wisdom to anyone who needs to be uplifted..

The other point that seem off to me was kind of the story-telling. I appreciated the effect of how you need to keep reading in order to understand, but the roller coaster of emotions gets a bit overwhelming when you’re too carried away. Yes, roller coaster of emotions has good and bad sides and this is what the bad side is, at least in my opinion.

I would still recommend this book to anyone but most especially to readers who are into romance, Christianity, self-care, mental health—these are the topics covered by this book. I hope you give this a try as I would also like to see other people’s thoughts about this one. Happy reading!

Was this review helpful?

This is the link to my full review:
https://aeloynes.wixsite.com/adventures/post/first-attempt-at-becky-wade

Things I liked:

1. The relatability! As Christians, it's easy to put on this perfect lifestyle that screams "all is well in my world!" at everyone you come across. However, very seldom is life actually so peachy. I loved that this book tore apart the stigma of Christian's who struggle.
2. Gen's moms past: Okay I really thrived in the mystery of this book. In fact, I really actually felt like Wade gripped me more in the mystery than she did in the thriller. I was pulled into the story, I was eager to see how it played out, and when the ending hit I was quite content with the results. It was a little predictable, but the story itself was honestly easy to read through.
3. Elements of romance. I enjoyed some of the romantic elements. I felt like a lot of it was too superficial, but there were a few threads I was LIVING for! Gen's parents, the groceries, and the laundry room scene. 1 -- Gen's parents' romance. Yes ma'am, more please! Gen's mom was so hard for Genevieve stomach because she was so overbearing, but the portrayal of mental health and the love Gen's dad had for her mom was beautiful! 2 -- THE EVERLOVING GROCERIES!! Oh my I got a good laugh from this one! Without spoiling it, Sam is this health nut with a desire to eat well (which is completely respectable). He's also a chef. A great one at that. So when they go grocery shopping and he buys her groceries, he buys her a bunch of healthy stuff and lots of produce that Gen has no clue what to do with. It's a great thread, albeit a short one, and I had a blast. 3 -- There's one specific scene where Gen crashes in his laundry room. Basically, the laundry room became some sort of "hello, I'm here, come save me" kind of indicator, so one night Gen's having a particularly rough go of it and she decides, like any sane person would, that crashing in Sam's laundry room is the solution. It was really cute and totally swoon worthy, but in order to not spoil the story I'll stop here!

Things I didn't like:
1. The romance. I'm a sucker for a solid romance, but this one really just didn't do it for me. There was very little chemistry, very little character interaction (it seemed), and Sam really felt paper thin and 2D. Additionally, Sam's inability to recover from his past relationship that wrecked him after 7 years of torturing himself...it just seemed a little extreme.
2. The characters. The only character I think I actually really enjoyed completely was Natasha. Gen wasn't a bad character and neither was Sam, but you really didn't get to know them fully in their environments. I appreciated Gen but she kind of bothered me, and Sam was infuriating all on his own. Also, I realize Christians come in all shapes and sizes with various character traits, but I don't expect a bible study writer to listen to Nicki Minaj and Iggy Azalea. Considering they're both heavily explicit and vulgar, I can't imagine a strong follower of Christ being completely okay with the messages of either rapper. If she weren't specifically a bible study writer than I'd say okay, yeah, I guess I'm guilty too, but the extreme that the author of this book took to make Gen out to be such a devout follower made this element a little unrealistic.
3. The overall drug problem. For one thing, I haven't ever been through drug withdrawals or any sense of coming off of drugs for me to fully understand what it takes and what it's like, but the way it was handled in this book felt too pure and easy. She struggled to come off of it but she really only had to try two times prior, and those were done on her own without help. I don't know, I could be wrong, but just seemed too easy for her to quit.


Overall summary:
I didn't really enjoy this read. It definitely had its parts, don't get me wrong, and I loved who Sam was portrayed to be, but there was just so little feeling to the characters and the story. I didn't live with the characters, I just kind of observed them. I didn't get to really meet any of them besides maybe Gen. With the others, I was like oh hey you exist now, okay. I also felt like it was largely unrealistic quite often. All of this is so disappointing because I've seen so many books by Becky Wade on different shelves and I have one on my shelf right now to read, so I was so hopeful that this one would be as much as the others have been talked about, but I really felt like it was lacking.

Was this review helpful?

I've enjoyed each Becky Wade book I've read and Stay with Me was no different. The thing I really liked about this book was that it didn't shy away from hard things.

The opioid crisis is real and relevant in our society, and I like that this book showed that it could happen to anyone. But that wasn't an excuse to continue in sin. We all allow something to take priority over our relationship with God. And most of us wear masks so others can't see our flaws. What a timely reminder that we can't hide from God, and He is the only one who can satisfy.

The characters were real and relatable. There was more focus on physical appearance than I would have liked but honestly, that's pretty realistic too. This book helped me look at my own life and ask questions about how honest I am with others, myself, and God. It's hard to have a book that focuses this much on the Christian walk but doesn't come across as preachy. I think Becky Wade accomplished it.

Was this review helpful?

I’m blown away by this book! Touching on a full range of emotions at a heart and faith level, Stay With Me is a stunning, grace-filled story of romance and redemption. This is one of my “Becky Wade” favorites, ranked up there with True to You. (And can I say how fun it is that Becky is not afraid of using exclamation marks!!!)

Both Gen and Sam are realistic characters with relatable quirks. Their journey is a heartfelt, page-turning one with their friendship at the center. Gen and her struggles are completely relatable, even if some of her particular issues aren’t familiar ones for some readers. (I can’t say more because spoilers!) But I will say the challenge to stay “on top” and to thrive, especially if a public image is a concern, was a brave and timely aspect for Becky Wade to explore at great depth. The family history Gen starts to uncover, too, is riveting and interesting!


Now it’s time to talk about SAM. Sam talks to plants, he’s Australian (which means an adorable accent), and HE BAKES. If that doesn’t make you fall in love with him, his gentlemanly actions and kindness will! He notices Gen’s quirks, virtues, and negative traits. He sees the big picture where she’s concerned. I feel like Sam’s perception of Gen elevates Stay With Me in the genre because it captures real-world details like this in many aspects: with Sam and Gen’s romance, with Gen and her family, with the friends and supporting characters. Gen’s zest for life draws Sam out of the shadows of his own choosing — I loved seeing that happen, too.

I appreciate how the romance, especially in Becky Wade’s unique voice, is sexy yet clean. This is a prime example of how the inspirational romance genre CAN have heat and convey a real, respectful sense of desire without crossing any inappropriate lines.

Becky Wade deals with hard truths with a balance of grace and honesty in all of her novels. This honesty, in Stay With Me‘s case, confronts things like pride, accountability, grace in our failings, and even guilt and loss. This list is not something that’s ticked off here and there. Instead, the story embodies these themes as naturally as Sam and Gen’s romance grows; steadily and like second nature.

I have to give a shoutout here to Genevieve’s sister, Natasha, and her “Year of living Austenly” she’s attempting in the novel. Yes, Austenly like Jane Austen and no television. Hobbies like knitting. I *really* need a short story set at Christmas about Natasha and her husband, Wyatt. With all the Austen things. Knitted gifts and drawing room card games. Tea and brown paper packages.

I’m very excited for the rest of the series, and seeing this special group of friends interact and grow closer!

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy. This is my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Stay with Me is genuinely marinated in grit and shame yet seasoned with grace and authenticity. Yes, my reader heart was trampled by heavy emotion but the empathy gained is well worth the cost. Grief, substance abuse, guilt, secrets, and shame play important roles in the lives of these characters and they are crafted with transparency and heart.

A simple small-town girl who happens to be a quasi-famous Christian celebrity meets ridiculously handsome Aussie-American foodie guy who lives in a historic mountain valley… a purely wonderful storyline without all the baggage. Stay with Me is more than that. It is exquisitely complex and I highly recommend it. We need more stories like this one to make us think and feel and learn what we may not know we need.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Was this review helpful?

Becky Wade is an author I can count on with each and every book she's writes, as there is not one yet that I haven't loved! "Stay with Me" is the first book in her brand-new Misty River Romance series and this is an excellent start (besides the prequel novella "Take A Chance On Me," that is also available now!).
Stay with Me (Misty River Romance, A): Wade, Becky: 9780764235603 ...
Genevieve and Sam are the two main characters in this novel; however we are introduced to other characters whom are going to be playing major roles in the upcoming novels in the series. When Genevieve was a young teen, she and a group of her peers made national news when they were trapped and survived several days following an earthquake. Genevieve's life has been forever changed following this time. When she receives a letter that is not quite the same as the other fan mail she receives, she knows she must find out the answers, even when it means going behind her loving, devoted parents' backs. Sam is living a quiet life, doing what he enjoys and yet he gets drawn into helping Genevieve, partly from guilt and partly because she really does not give him much choice. These two, among other characters, must face their pasts and issues in order to truly be healed and find closure.
I really enjoyed this book, the setting, the characters, the intrigue and the flashbacks. I loved how the time frames and stories switch back and forth with present day, the earthquake event and the story that involves Genevieve's parents from years ago. This book will leave you wanting to spend time at Sam's home, farm and restaurant and learning from one of many Genevieve's Bible studies.

I highly recommend this sweet story of healing and love!

Was this review helpful?

Stay With Me by Becky Wade is the author’s best work to date. I have long been a fan of this author’s work and she has won awards that were well deserved. But this book— it stands alone. Ms Wade is not afraid to take on difficult, timely topics and take them on thoroughly. I highly recommend this novel to readers of all genres because its topic of addiction is so important in today’s world. So good! You’ll be sad to see the book end. I received a digital copy of this book from the author with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

Was this review helpful?

Ah-mazing. This author is seriously skilled at bringing out all the feels! I love that when I read a Becky Wade book I know I will emotionally connect to the characters, and that they don't have to be perfect, but their flaws make them more realistic and relatable. The strong spiritual thread leaves me feeling inspired and uplifted, and the message of redemption and forgiveness is one that everyone can appreciate. There is a perfect balance struck between the introspective angst and the lighter moments that brought a smile to my face as I read. Sam is my favorite in this one with his compassion and kindness, and I loved the way he allowed Gen to bring him out of his darkness. Some of the themes and struggles tackled are pretty heavy, but they are explored with grace that prompts self-reflection in the reader. The history of the earthquake survivors and the mystery of Gen's parents bring even more layers and depth to the story, and I'm so excited for the upcoming books in the series that will feature the Miracle Five.

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions expressed in this review are my own)

Was this review helpful?

Stay with Me stands as a prime example of why Becky Wade rates as one of my favorite contemporary romance writers. So many elements worked together to form this beautiful story. It had Pride and Prejudice quotes, laugh-out-loud humor, emotional drama, family secrets, and an unfolding romance. The story held my attention as the characters dealt with tough issues such as prescription drug addiction, trauma, and following God’s leading. To me, the story didn’t feel dark or heavy, but I recognize that it could be more difficult for those who know someone struggling with prescription drug addiction or have fought that battle themselves. Thankfully, there is so much hope and truth in Stay with Me.

As I reviewed my notes on Stay with Me, I found seventeen topics or issues that the novel touched on. There are probably some that I missed. Though the story taps so many issues, it focuses in on only a few and wraps up beautifully in the end. I recommend Stay with Me to readers who enjoy contemporary romances with plenty of character development and spiritual truths.

Stay with Me by Becky Wade debuts as the first full-length novel in the Misty River Romance series. There is a prequel, Take a Chance on Me, in which Sam appears as a minor character; however, it is not necessary to read the prequel.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this ebook by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.

Was this review helpful?

Becky Wade is one of my favorite contemporary romance writers. I don’t even read the back cover blurb because I know I will like her books because she has never let me down.

I’m not even sure where to start.

How about with the romance? Becky knows how to light a fire under her characters and develop a romance that will have you cheering them on. Sam basically has to face his worst fears when he meets Genevieve and Genevieve needs to start being real with herself and along the way they try not to love each other.

How about Genevieve’s issues? As someone in ministry myself I can relate to the fact that you feel like you can’t be real because people see you one way on the stage, but wonder if they knew the struggles you were really going through? Would they still love you, respect you? Very tough topics in this book.

How about the mystery? That is what I love about Becky’s books. She always has some kind of mystery involved in the story. This is a good one that had me wondering what in the world was going on.

So did I like this book? Yes!! I loved it and can’t wait to read more in this series, which the ground work is beautifully laid out in this book.


A copy of this book was given to me. All opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

“He’d been living in a black-and-white world. She was Technicolor.”

This book, y’all. Sometimes the books you love the most are the hardest to review because you have so much to say but can’t find words that will do it justice. Stay With Me is such a book.

One of the first things that sets this book apart for me is the way it respectfully and honestly deals with tough issues like addiction and at the same time maintains a sense of humor and tenderness throughout. (The scene where Sam gets roped into Gen’s therapy session had me laughing out loud.) Not many authors can achieve this balance well – Cynthia Ruchti & Pepper Basham are two others who come immediately to mind – but Wade has done a stellar job.

Both protagonists are infinitely likable and relatable. Sam is a charming-but-brooding hero with a yummy Australian accent, a farm-to-table restaurant (and the farm to go with it) and a secret shame. Genevieve is a tangle of energy, genuineness, wit, faith, and heart. Apart from her secret shame, she makes the perfect women’s Bible study leader (and anyone who’s done women’s Bible study will chuckle at Sam’s introduction to the teaching videos & workbook). The two of them together are truly a delight – even before the kissing starts but definitely after as well.

There are so many layers to Stay With Me. From addiction to family dynamics to even the Christian celebrity culture and our transparency (or lack thereof) with fellow Jesus-followers, it is a story that tackles these things head on but covers them all with grace and redemption. There’s also an underlying backstory to Gen, her sister and 3 of their friends that we receive through flashbacks from different characters’ perspectives – I’m really intrigued to see where the other characters’ stories go from here & if the bit of a teaser we get in the later chapters of Stay With Me is any indication, Sebastian’s story will be a doozie!

"Why was it so hard for Christians to come clean to one another about the sins that had them by their throats? Because of pride? Because every Christian wanted every other Christian to think they were doing it right? That they were strong and good? If so, that was idiotic."

Bottom Line: Wow. Becky Wade has always written exquisitely perfect books, but Stay With Me takes this exquisite perfection to new levels – with the exquisite imperfection of her characters. I loved every moment spent with Gen & Sam – the witty banter, the tender friendship, the smokin hot kisses. But this is so much more than a story of two people falling in love. It’s about broken people finding grace & healing. It’s heartfelt and sincere, often sobering & equally often hilarious as the scene allows. And every word is on pitch & thoughtful. This is definitely one of my top reads for 2020 so far – highly recommended!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

Was this review helpful?

Excellent storyline. Well written characters. Overall a great read. I couldn’t put it down. The depth of the story and the characters was amazing. They were real, they struggled, they weren’t perfect, and not everything worked out in their favor. There were a few times where I got confused in the details. Like I had missed something. But it didn’t affect the understanding of the story. The spiritual thread was natural and not forced feeling. Another story to love from Becky Wade. She doesn’t disappoint.
I received a digital copy from netgalley. I was under no requirement to write a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

Was this review helpful?

A miraculous rescue when Genevieve was only twelve led her into a career as a Bible study teacher and writer. An injury to her ankle led her down a slippery slope she wasn't even aware she was on. The secrets she hid strangled her relationship with God, making Him seem distant. . .

When the handsome Australian farmer and restaurateur, Sam, discovered Gen in his guesthouse, he confronted her with a truth she was loathe to accept. The mirror he shined into her heart reflected an image she was ashamed of. And determined to correct.

Determined, also, to solve the mystery behind the anonymous letter she received, Gen worked with her sister Natasha to ferret out the secret her parents are clearly concealing. The truth was almost more than they could handle and threatened to send Gen back into the mire she had only begun to escape!

The story of the Miracle Five is slowly revealed as introductions to each chapter. The events of that week had a profound impact on all five, four of whom remain close friends to this day. It is strongly hinted that we will learn more about Ben and Sebastian and that their story is going to be profound! I hope Luke's story will also be told in a future book. He needs a happy ending!

Genevieve's older sister, Natasha, was also one of the "Miracle Five". She was a riot! I loved her obsession with everything Jane Austen and her year of "living Austenly". She would quote Austen's works whenever she could fit them into the situation, invited friends over to play whist, and shunned television for more appropriate pursuits like knitting (which she was terrible at) and listening to the pianoforte. Her poor husband!

Was this review helpful?

I was given this book in exchange for an honest review. What I really liked about this book is that it reminds people that no-one in ministry is perfect - which I think that we as Christians so often forget as we ask a lot of those in ministry. I liked flawed characters that are redeemed and this book provided that.

The big theme in this book is forgiveness and coming to grips with the past. Both main characters have interesting backstories (I don't want to give you any spoilers) as well as the side characters who also play a big role in this book. The threads of the story also set it up for at least 2 other books - which I am definitely aiming to read!

This book is unapologetically Christian and this theme is woven throughout the book. There are no sex scenes or bad language.

Would I read it if I had to pay for it? Yes I would. I enjoy Becky Wade's books and have read all of them. I have also suggested them for purchase at two different libraries. You can get the prequel to the series free on the author's website.

Was this review helpful?

(4.5 Stars) This beautiful story has many facets and lessons embedded within. Gen and Sam are phenomenal characters with flaws and strengths that add depth and dimension to who they are. Wade does a fantastic job of embracing the hard and wrapping it up with hope and goodness, allowing the reader to follow along on an inspirational journey.

I love these character's voices, as their personalities shine through their words and actions. Sam is steady and stalwart, while Gen is more vibrant and social. They way they come together, even with resistance, is heartwarming, especially as they each have demons they face and stories to unfold through the course of the book.

Amidst the small town charm, a small mystery develops, which succeeds to add another layer to this already great story. My only wish was to see the characters in the prequel show up more. All in all, this is a wonderfully engaging tale and I can't wait for more.

Content: mild+ romance; moderate religion; talk of drug addiction, some vague/past abuse, and murder.

*I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*

Was this review helpful?

Stay with Me is a deeply touching story of addiction and the hard road to recovery wrapped in God’s sweet mercy, grace, and forgiveness. Wade does not pull any punches with her latest contemporary, touching on issues that are often swept under the rug.

Genevieve and Sam are both hiding from the brutal fallout of opioid addiction but for different reasons. I was rooted to the pages of their story and could not help but feel the stress and expectations that are present for many people. Often times, we hide behind a mask of all-is-well when in reality it is definitely not. Who can we turn to and be vulnerable with, without feeling as if we will be judged? How quick a medication, or anything we put before God in our life, can become an idol of addiction.

If you are a fan of Becky Wade books, you will definitely like this one. She is a master at weaving a story with deep emotion and strong faith. She makes you cheer for fictional characters as if they’re friends.

I was provided an electronic copy of the book through the publisher and Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

Becky Wade quickly became one of my favorite authors when I read her Porter Family series and she cemented that position with the amazing, swoon worthy and award-winning Bradford Sister Romance series. Stay With Me kicks off her new Misty River Romance series that promises to be AMAZING! I adored everything about this book. The characters were so intriguing from extreme people person Genevieve and borderline hermit Sam, Natasha and her “Year of Living Austenly,” unlikely brothers at heart Ben and Sebastian, who I hope to see in their own books, and Genevieve and Natasha’s quirky parents who aren’t as boring as they appear.

Wade tackles some heavy topics in this book and deals with themes of truth and transparency. You’ll probably want to have the tissues ready for this one as there are a couple moments that have the potential to be ugly cry inducing. The set up for the next installment in the series leads me to suspect it will be a beautiful, tearjerker as well. If you’re a romance fan Becky Wade is a must read, just be ready to binge her backlist once you finish this stunner.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?